she lays
on her death bed
family surrounds her

mother’s sickness
i slowly reach
for her hand

the dying flower
revives in the water
new glass home

lipstick on a paper cup
rides nameless
in his car

antique store junk
the crock
on my mother’s shelf

the silk tie
wrapped around his neck
the coarse rope

school day
crisp white shoes
fresh start

she screams
yells
he exits the room

gun in hand
pulled trigger
lives lost

grandpa's grave—
clovers grow
all in four

final drive
forever young plays
tears from dad

father taken
mother on drugs—
          survival

hazy morning
huge bowl of cereal
face first

the sun
at its highest
the trouble start

seven years
towards completion
pictureless puzzle

sitting in shackles
he waits—
         freedom taken

the dog spills
his treats—
the cat bowl is empty

senior year
alarm clock blaring
. . . snooZzz.

empty hallway
              muffled voices
late again

screaming
shouting
the deaf man waits

get out of the house
   wait . . .
leave that key behind.

 
a dirty shovel glows after the mist

calm water
sounds of a distant ship horn
               calm water